Citation Nr: 18154763
Decision Date: 11/30/18	Archive Date: 11/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-30 622
DATE:	November 30, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and alcoholism, is remanded.
 
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served from September 1963 to August 1966.  
The case is on appeal from an April 2014 rating decision. 
Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and alcoholism.
The Board has recharacterized the Veteran’s claim for alcoholism more broadly as one for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and alcoholism.  See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009).  The issue of entitlement for a psychiatric disorder is remanded for a new VA examination.
The Veteran contends that when he joined the Army at age 17 he was subjected to being around alcohol frequently, alcohol use was encouraged, and that is “where [his alcoholism] started and also led to other health problems.”  The Veteran has also reported that “alcoholism [is] not the problem, it’s mental, it’s depression.”
VA compensation may not be paid for primary substance abuse disabilities, or for secondary disabilities arising from primary abuse.  See 38 U.S.C. § 105; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.1, 3.301; see also Allen v. Principi, 237 F.3d 1368, 1381 (Fed. Cir. 2001).  Compensation may only be paid for substance abuse that is secondary to, or a symptom of, a service-connected disability. 
However, a VA examination has not been provided to the Veteran that adequately addresses any possible underlying service-connected psychiatric disorders, particularly given the Veteran’s lay statements and his medical treatment records that reflect a diagnosis of depression and prescribed antidepressants.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination by an appropriate medical professional.  The entire claims file must be reviewed by the examiner.  The examiner is to conduct all indicated tests.
The examiner is to first determine whether the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder, including one manifested by depression.  Any substance abuse disorder should be characterized as primary or secondary, and it should be explained why this is so.
If a psychiatric disorder is identified, the examiner should then provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that it had its onset during, or is otherwise related to, active service.
The examiner should provide rationale for all opinions expressed, including by citing to the record.
 
RYAN T. KESSEL
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	S. Morford, Associate Counsel